Smarty Alert: POWERFUL movie screening this weekend “Race to Nowhere”

Smarties, this event is NOT to be missed. The concept will make you ask yourself a zillion questions about how you are raising your children.

When?THIS Sunday, January 9th at noon. There is also a screening January 6th at East Meck, you will have to call the school to get ticket information. We’ve heard that there are several screenings at schools across the county. So check with your school or check the site directly to find out new screenings that pop up daily.Where? Epicentre Theatre uptownTicket information?http://rtnepicentretheatre.eventbrite.comSmarty Scoop? Vicki Abeles, first-time filmmaker, was inspired to make Race to Nowhere out of concern for her children. A mother of three and former Wall Street attorney, Abeles awakened to this crisis as her 12-year old daughter was being treated for stress-related illness. She saw personally how the pressures were overwhelming not only to her own kids, but to students everywhere – in every kind of school environment and community.

“As a mother, I experienced the stress firsthand and realized that no one was talking about it,” says Vicki Abeles. “I saw kids who were anxious, depressed, physically ill, checking out, abusing drugs and, worst case, attempting suicide. I felt compelled to speak out about this crisis by making a film and giving voice to the students, teachers, and parents. I wanted to expose a deeper truth about our education system. We are graduating a generation of robo-students, unable to think and work independently, creatively and collaboratively.”

School reform has become an urgent national issue and 2010 is the year of the education film. Race to Nowhere is the only film that shows what is actually happening to our kids as a result of current policies and practices obsessed with testing, performance and competition rather than meaningful teaching and learning. Race to Nowhere finally gives voice to those on the front lines who are most affected by education policies – the students and teachers themselves. Race to Nowhere is the only film to spotlight the intersection of health and education. The film empowers everyone to get involved and take ownership of what’s happening in our schools and communities.

Race to Nowhere is a call to action to challenge current assumptions on how to best prepare the youth of America to become healthy, bright, contributing and leading citizens. After seeing the film, your views on education and childhood will forever be changed

“Every once in a while, a film comes along that has the potential to change the culture,” said New York Times bestselling author Rachel Simmons (Odd Girl Out: The Hidden Culture of Aggression in Girls). “Race to Nowhere shines a light on the crisis of learning and meaning facing American education. The film is both a call to arms and a beacon of hope, a source of relief and outrage and a way forward for all of us.”

2 comments

This topic is the #1 reason why I have struggled so much to find the right school for our rising Kindergartener. Because if they are smart, they get swallowed up in a push to the brink culture. This is also open to the Public, if you are up on the lake, at the Community School of Davidson this next Monday at 7PM and Tuesday at 10AM with an open forum of Psychologists, Teachers, etc..Just go to the school website and reserve a seat, its free with a request donation.Teri P.